Neonatal Nurse Practitioner

This program prepares students for the role of nurse practitioner specializing in Neonatal Nursing.

Program Information

This MSN program prepares graduates for advanced nursing practice and for doctoral study. Graduates of the program are able to synthesize and apply advanced knowledge, theories, and research to a specialized area of nursing practice and function as leaders in practice to contribute to the advancement of the nursing profession.

The Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Track classes are only available online. However, there is a mandatory three (3) to four (4) day orientation held during the fall semester of the first practicum course. Attendance is required and will allow for questions and interaction with course faculty. Various clinical skills workshops will be held during the orientation.

Students enrolled in the NNP program are required to complete clinical hours with a qualified preceptor. The College of Nursing has contracts with agencies in many areas of the U.S. Please review our clinical affiliations list on the College of Nursing website, Clinical Affiliation Agencies to determine if we already have an agreement with an agency in your area where you can complete your clinical hours. If we do not have an agreement with an agency in your geographical location, please contact Dr. Penni C. Huffman at pennicoates@southalabama.edu. prior to submitting your application.

Applicants must have a minimum of 2 years Level III or higher NICU experience prior to starting the specialty option clinical component.

Clinical Orientation

All students enrolled in the first specialty course are required to attend a mandatory three-day clinical orientation on campus during that fall term. Various clinical skills workshops will be held during the orientation.

The mandatory Neonatal Nurse Practitioner orientation dates will be

• September 9‐10, 2019

for those students beginning the specialty course MCN 568 in the fall semester. Please note these dates are for Simulation Intensives only. The coordinator for each specialty track will provide full orientation dates. Each event will take place at USA College of Nursing. You will receive more information as the date approaches via your JAG e-mail. Please make plans to attend.

Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Curriculum

BSN-MSN students complete all support, MSN core, and MSN specialty courses for a total of 45 credit hours.  The MSN degree must be completed within five years of matriculation.

Support Courses

NU 518 - Advanced Nursing Assessment 3 credits

NU 545 - Physio-pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing 3 credits

NU 578 - Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses 3 credits

MSN Core Courses

NU 607 - Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice 3 credits

NU 608 - Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Health Care 3 credits

NU 610 - Healthcare Policy and Finance 3 credits

NU 613 - Organizational & Systems Leadership 3 credits

Neonatal NP Specialty Courses

MCN 568 – Introduction to Neonatal NP 3 credits

MCN 571 – Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Neonatal NP and

Neonatal NP 2 credits

MCN 572 – Neonatal NP I 3 credits

MCN 573 – Neonatal NP Practicum I - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credits

MCN 574 – Neonatal NP II 3 credits

MCN 575 – Neonatal NP Practicum II - 180 Clinical Hours 3 credits

MCN 576 – Neonatal NP Practicum III - 240 Clinical Hours 4 credits

MCN 577 – Neonatal NP III 3 credits

RN to MSN students who are registered nurses with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a non-nursing discipline must also complete the following courses.

RN-MSN Courses

CMN 411 - Nursing in Community Systems 4 credits

NU 404 - Evidence Based Practice & Informatics 3 credits

NU 410 - Concepts of Professional Nursing 6 credits

NU 425 – Health Assessment Across the Lifespan 3 credits

OR

NU 530 – Accelerated MSN Advanced Health Assessment 4 credits

Contacts

Please feel free to contact Dr. Penni Huffman for more information about this specialty: pennicoates@southalabama.edu.

Promotion Contract

Please refer to the Academic Progression Policy.